BURNABY, B.C. – Substitute Bryan Burke scored a late game-winning goal and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson earned the shutout as the Portland Timbers Reserves defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves 1-0 in their MLS Reserve League regular-season finale Monday at Swangard Stadium.
The Timbers Reserves finished the regular season on a seven-match unbeaten streak, winning five of their last six matches to finish with a record of 6-2-2 (20pts) and in second place in the Reserve League’s West Division. The Whitecaps FC Reserves fall to 2-5-2 (8pts) with the loss.
The Cascadia rivals played scoreless through a majority of the match until a late run by the Timbers in the 82nd minute set up the game-winning goal. Midfielder Rodrigo Lopez played a leading pass into the box for forward Bright Dike. Vancouver goalkeeper Jay Nolly left his line to challenge the play and as Nolly and Dike collided the ball came loose. Unmarked, Burke – a guest player – collected the free ball and drilled a rolling shot into the back of the net.
Gleeson recorded one save, coming on a shot by Vancouver forward Long Tan in the 20th minute, to pick up his first shutout and fifth victory of the Reserve League season.
The Timbers Reserves had a handful of chances to take a lead in the first half, with the first coming in the first minute of the match. Midfielders Kalif Alhassan and Jack Jewsbury combined for a one-two, which set up Jewsbury for a shot from just inside the box and he put it high of the mark.
Forward Bright Dike forced Nolly into a save in the 23rd minute, heading on a cross from defender Chris Taylor.
Second-half substitute Omar Salgado provided a spark off the bench for the Whitecaps FC Reserves, taking a pair of shots. He forced Gleeson to react with a shot from distance in the 52nd minute, but his effort went just wide of the target.
Notes:
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Gleeson finished the Reserve League regular season with a perfect 5-0-0 record.
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With 24 total goals during the 2011 season, the Timbers Reserves finished on top of the Reserve League in goals scored.
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Burke, a guest player for the Timbers Reserves, was a member of the Kitsap Pumas’ 2011 Premier Development League championship side
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On the road during the Reserve League season, the Timbers Reserves were 3-1-1.
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Defender David Horst was a late scratch from the Timbers Reserves’ Starting XI as an injury precaution. Defender Kevin Harmes (guest player), who had played in three MLS matches this season for Whitecaps FC, started in Horst’s spot in the lineup.
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Midfielder Jack Jewsbury started for the Timbers Reserves, playing 45 minutes and had two of the team’s three first-half shots.
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The Timbers Reserves where were held without a first-half goal for just the fourth time this season.
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The Timbers Reserves recorded their second shutout of the Reserve League season, both of which came on the road. Their team’s other clean sheet was at the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves on Aug. 7, in a 2-0 win.
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Portland forward Bright Dike and Vancouver defender Bilal Duckett played together at the college level the University of Notre Dame.
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Forward Brian Umony, who had scored a goal in three of the Timbers’ last four MLS Reserve League games, departed for Uganda prior to the match to join the Uganda National Team for an upcoming 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya.
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Defender Steve Purdy, who played the full 90 on Monday, departed for El Salvador from Vancouver to join the El Salvador National team for a pair of upcoming FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
- Defender Chris Taylor and midfielder Rodrigo Lopez were the only two Timbers players to play in all 10 Reserve League matches. Taylor led the team in minutes played at 855.
Portland Timbers (6-2-2, 20pts) at Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2-5-2, 8pts) – MLS Reserve League
Oct. 3, 2011 – Swangard Stadium
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 0 1 1
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 0 0
Scoring Summary
POR: Burke (unassisted), 82
Misconduct Summary
VAN: Langkamp (Caution), 22
VAN: Janicki (Caution), 42
VAN: Khalfan (Caution), 80
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Jake Gleeson, D Chris Taylor, D Kevin Harmes, D Steve Purdy, D Rodney Wallace, M Peter Lowry ©, M Freddie Braun, M Jack Jewsbury (Eric Alexander, 46), F Rodrigo Lopez, F Bright Dike, F Kalif Alhassan (Bryan Burke, 74)
Substitutes Not Used: D David Horst
TOTAL SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 6; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 1
VAN: GK Jay Nolly, D Bilal Duckett, D Matthias Langkamp (Michael Boxall, 67), D Carlyle Mitchell, D Greg Janicki, M Michael Nanchoff, M Alexandre Morfaw (Bryce Alderson, 67), M Philippe Davies, M Nizar Khalfan, F Mustapha Jarju (Omar Salgado, 46), F Long Tan (Omar Elmasari, 75)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Joe Cannon
TOTAL SHOTS: 5; SHOTS ON GOAL: 1; FOULS: 13; OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: 4
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistant Referees: Marco Ariuda, Andrew Foster
4th Official: Alan Ruch
Attendance: n/a
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
